Chez

I agree with the sentiment, but the issue with turning down offers now, is that in twelve months time we are in exactly the same position as we are now, only, with £20m less in our pocket to find a replacement. We basically kick the problem down the road and from a business standpoint, its financial suicide allowing in demand players to walk for free.

its never going to end. We are never going to compete with the big six financially, so they will also take our better players. Vardey not going to downward spiralling Arsenal is one of the only times in recent years that a middling side has kept hold of a player a big six side wants.

he's just too laid back. Never looks like he wants to dominate his opponent. Got the first touch for this level, but lacks that bit of bite. Can you add that to a players game? JWP learned to put his foot in when needed, so maybe you can, but whether Valery has the grit needed, I'm not sure.

Talking to a couple of blues fans in my cricket side last week the general feeling was "Valery is pretty shit". They said it was always going to tricky to get in their side because Maxine Colin is very well liked and "if he was half a yard quicker he'd be in the Prem." Apparently they have often played with wing backs, so there has been an opportunity for Valery to come in, should he be seen as more attacking, but they have gone for the Colin because "he's just better"..."Valery is too passive"..."just not very good"...you get the idea.

He's played both left back and left midfield for them, starting almost all the games when fit. I think they are pretty average side, like us.

One thing we may need to accept is that whoever we get to replace him, will probably not be as good as Bertrand at his best, but hopefully will be as good as Bertrand would be next season. I thought Omar Richards was the ideal replacement, but obviously we need to look elsewhere. Perhaps Lloyd Kelly would be a good option is Bompey don't get promoted. He's possibly the most one footed player i have ever seen, but after Bertrand we should be used to that. Rico Henry is another option, but both players wont come cheap. I do wonder if Henry is quick and strong enough to dominate at the highest level, but he has the first touch to play in the Prem.

Very decent left back in the games that I've watched him play and he can provide cover for right back. Perfect type of player for us. Whether he can perform to the standard KWP has, I am not sure.

Bertrand has been absolutely fantastic for us over the years. He has been underrated by many. He should have gone to the world cup when he was at his best, and could have provided England cover as a CB as part of the three as he did for us, but its wasn't to be. The key has always been his first touch, positioning, pace and decision making, especially his ability to assess distances and know when to tackle and when to jockey. He never sold himself and had the pace to prevent anyone beating him all end up. His pace has got both the side and himself out of jail a lot. He has lost a step over the last year or so and that has reduced his effectiveness a lot. I felt the ideal scenario was to keep him, on a lessor wage, but look for competition this summer, not an understudy. He's not as good as he was, but he is still decent. It should not be underestimated how good a player he has been and finding two quality left backs with our budget will be tough. KWP has worked out well. That wont happen every time. I am kind of glad the club hasn't overstretched itself to keep him, but nervous about how we fill that gap. Omar Richards would be have been ideal. I'm not sure who is next in line.

Question, if Stephens' mistake had been punished and we lose that game, but every single other aspect of the performance remains the same, would you be saying it was great to see the team battling for every ball to the end" or would you be saying we are fucking shit? It's amazing the difference in the evaluation of the performance depending on the result. Win and there is no mention of beaches, attitude, body language, effort, heads turned, fitness etc. etc.

Ekoku has done a lot of Saints commentaries recently and knows us well. He speaks a lot sense and is pretty eloquent. Morrison has improved, but is still fucking terrible, almost unlistenable, to me anyway. I think he gets the gig because he appeals to the yoof. I'm getting old, but having people in jobs that need to be eloquent speakers that quite obviously aren't, drives me insane. Stealin' a living IMO.

Ings scores, we win and the assessment of the team's performance changes completely. Ings doesn't score, we don't win and the same performance is seen in a whole new light. For example, when you lead, a backwards pass doesn't annoy anyone, ever. Not sure who much Ings contributed to the overall performance. He finishes stuff off brilliantly, and without him we suck, but the drive, tempo etc etc is by and large down to others.

Palace, Burnley and Newcastle...all sides I would describe fecking shit. Thats our level.

he has, but his first touch ain't great. That puts me off a lot. He's very basic. He does get in the right areas to score goals. He's young too...he's one more year, so we will need to see progression for him to ge a new deal.

means you get one more season and the £20m next summer I guess. Not a great deal for us, but he holds the cards.

player of the season by far for me.

He can play. don't worry about that, but he still has a but to learn about positional play. Armstrong has impressed down the middle, so he's the odd man out.

I disagree. He never looked like he was demotivated at all. Not once, in any game. he got injured, when he returned he seemed to have lost his sharpness and fitness, which meant he wasn't taking half chances and he looked frustrated at himself and disappointed at the results. Today, well he scores twice and looks happy as Larry. Who wouldnt?

he knows where the net is.

Ings toe poked the goal. The chance for Che at Liverpool springs to mind SKD, although this one was easier.

Diallo on for me. Lets get some legs in the middle

not sure he'd offer a good reference seeing as we don't seem to trust him or give him an extended run in the side when fit

or just react to their change if shape.

if the opponent is time-wasting, like KWP was, I'm all for allowing it personally.

Dortmund or Saints...tough choice.

the bottom three